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Asked by Andre.fails to Jonathan, Kellie, Kevin, Melissa, Stephanie on 28 Apr 2016.
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Jonathan Jackson answered on 28 Apr 2016:
Hi Andre,
Studying animals and wildlife is very much a scientific process! In addition to learning how animals behave in the world around them, we can borrow some of their “tricks” to improve our own lives. Also, as Kellie can tell you, sometimes we study mice and other animals (not wild, but raised in a lab) in order to find out more about ourselves.
Ask any of the scientists here, and they’ll tell you that studying wildlife is a great way of learning about the environment, about our planet, about where we came from, and where we might go. Anytime you ask a careful set of questions and try to find out the answer, you’re doing science. And some of the best science out there is the science of wildlife.
I hope that answers your question. Can you let me know if you meant to ask something else?
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Stephanie Moon answered on 28 Apr 2016:
Wild life science is so cool! It can be hard to do because we’re still learning about so many different organisms. For example, it’s hard to do molecular biology experiments on some organisms because we don’t know their genome sequences and we don’t really have tools that will let us study them. Mostly we have a lot of tools to study mice, humans, and to a lesser extent rats. I went to school at Colorado State University where there are some awesome laboratory groups that study viruses in wild cats, and there’s an article online about how they do it: http://www.nbcnews.com/id/49716270/ns/technology_and_science-science/#.VyJVLVYrKUk
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Melissa Wilson Sayres answered on 30 Apr 2016:
My lab is now involved in a couple collaborations thinking about conservation genetics (in Gila monsters and in Desert tortoises). These projects are great because they combine field work, DNA analysis, physiology, and other scientific disciplines. I like working with the wildlife, and at the intersection of multiple areas. There are lots of different levels on which we can work with wildlife.
Do you like working with animals?
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Kellie Jaremko answered on 4 May 2016:
Hi Andre,
I’m not sure of your exact question. I think that the other scientists gave great answers about wildlife science so I’m going to answer this a different way. I think being a scientist does give you the opportunity to have a wild and exciting life. Some types of science (although not mine but some of my friends) require fieldwork and travel to faraway places. I have enjoyed traveling all over the country to conferences. I think conferences are amazing and you get to share your research but even better you get to hear about all the new exciting science happening everywhere else too. Sometimes the data we find also is wild and doesn’t fit into the theory the way that we thought. Unexpected results, once reproduced, are some of the most exciting breakthrough moments in science. Being a scientist also opens you up to meeting many interesting people, teaching, and getting involved in science outreach or policy. My journey is science has been a wild ride so far and I love that.PS. Wildlife science is very cool also. As a zoo enthusiast I appreciate the science that helps protect endangered animals and grow their populations.
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